METALWOODS
Fairways
The Stealth fairways don’t have carbon fibre faces, but the Stealth Plus fairway (£349) uses special Zatech titanium to maximise face flexibility. An all-new infinity edge on the carbon crown makes it 12 per cent larger compared with the SIM2 fairways, which gets more weight lower in the clubhead. The heavy 80g V Steel sole also helps in this regard and assists with turf interaction and versatility. The regular Stealth fairway (£279) is a slightly larger model and offers more forgiveness.
Taylormade Stealth Drivers
Taylormade now claims titanium faces have had their day and that we are entering the ‘carbonwood age’, with its three new Stealth drivers featuring a 26g red face made from 60 layers of carbon fibre. This innovation, which has been 20 years in the making, not only saves weight (it is 40 per cent lighter than a titanium face of equivalent size would be) but also allows them to be made 11 per cent bigger than SIM2 and faster from a wider area.
On top of the face sits a nano-texture cover that optimises launch conditions in both dry and wet weather. Many of the technologies from SIM2 carry over into Stealth, like the asymmetric Inertia Generator on the sole, Twist Face and the Speed Pocket. There are three models: the Stealth Plus (£499), which is lower-spinning and has a 10g sliding weight; the more forgiving Stealth (£469); and the drawbiased Stealth HD (£469). Read our full review of the drivers on page 98.
Rescues
There are two Stealth rescue clubs to choose from depending on your preference in looks, both featuring a high-strength C300 steel face for explosive ball speeds. The Stealth Plus (£249) has an iron-like high-toe profile and compact overall footprint, which make it easier to control trajectory and shot shape while maintaining added forgiveness compared with long-irons. It also has a redesigned V Steel sole and an adjustable loft sleeve. The carbon crown on the Stealth rescue (£229) saves seven grams, putting weight lower in the head for easy launch and better stability through impact.